Filed by North Fork Bancorporation, Inc.
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
Act of 1933
Subject Company: Dime Bancorp, Inc.
Commission File No. 001-13094
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE INVESTOR: DANIEL M. HEALY
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
516-844-1258
PRESS: KEKST AND COMPANY
ROBERT D. SIEGFRIED
212-521-4832
NORTH FORK EXTENDS EXPIRATION DATE
OF ITS EXCHANGE OFFER FOR DIME
MELVILLE, N.Y. -- MARCH 23, 2000 - NORTH FORK BANCORPORATION, INC.
(NYSE:NFB) issued a statement today announcing that it had extended the
expiration date of its exchange offer for all outstanding shares of common
stock of Dime Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:DME) to 12:00 midnight, New York City
time, on Wednesday, May 31, 2000.
North Fork extended the expiration date of its offer until the end of May
in light of the second postponement of Dime's stockholder meeting to
consider the proposed merger with Hudson United Bancorp, this time to May
17, 2000, and North Fork's expectation that it will receive Federal Reserve
Board approval for its offer in the latter part of May. Failure of the
Dime stockholders to approve the proposed merger with Hudson United and
receipt of Federal Reserve Board approval would satisfy two conditions of
North Fork's offer.
As of 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Wednesday, March 22, 2000, no
shares of Dime common stock had been tendered in the offer. As previously
reported, North Fork commenced its exchange offer last week.
North Fork also announced that Dime filed a lawsuit against North Fork and
its directors in the United States District Court for the Eastern District
of New York alleging claims under the federal securities laws based on what
Dime believes are material misstatements and omissions in the proxy
solicitation and exchange offer materials filed by North Fork with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Dime's claim seeks injunctive and
other relief. North Fork believes that Dime's claims are without merit and
intends to contest the action vigorously.
Investors and security holders are advised to read North Fork's proxy
statement with respect to North Fork's solicitation of proxies against the
proposed Dime/Hudson merger and North Fork's registration statement with
respect to its exchange offer for Dime common stock, each as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and any amendments or supplements to
either of them, because each of these documents contains important
information. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the
proxy statement, the exchange offer registration statement and other
documents filed by North Fork with the SEC at the SEC's Internet web site
at www.sec.gov. The proxy statement, the exchange offer registration
statement and such other documents may also be obtained free of charge by
overnight mail or direct electronic transmission by calling North Fork's
proxy solicitor, D.F. King & Co., Inc., toll-free at 1-800-755-7250.
